December 31

At-sea inspections of vessels in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area (NRA) in 2004 total 241. Up to three dedicated Canadian patrol vessels were on duty in the NRA, logging 675 patrol days (165 days of which were provided by the Navy). An estimated 2,540 flying hours of aerial surveillance were also dedicated to the NRA (2,000 by DFO through Provincial Airlines Limited and 540 by the Air Force).

December 17

Canada's NAFO inspectors issue citation against the Portuguese vessel, Joana Princesa, for the serious infringement of conducting a directed fishery for American plaice - a moratoria species. Inspectors remain on board vessel until December 28, when French officials in St-Pierre-et-Miquelon review the evidence collected by Canadian inspectors and conduct an inspection on behalf of the European Union (EU).

December 13-14

Canada-Russia bilateral fisheries consultations in Moscow.

December 13

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Geoff Regan announces the Advisory Panel on the Sustainable Management of Straddling Fish Stocks in the Northwest Atlantic during a speech to the St. John's Board of Trade. The Panel is mandated to provide advice on how to reduce overfishing and avoid the ecological destruction of straddling stocks in the NRA.

December 13

Canada's NAFO inspectors issue three citations to the Lithuanian vessel, Borgin, for improper labelling of shrimp caught in NAFO Division 3L, carrying a non-operational Vessel Monitoring System, and failure to carry an independent and impartial observer on board.

December 2

Canada closes ports to vessels from the Faroe Islands and Greenland due to overfishing of shrimp in NAFO Division 3L in excess of their 2004 NAFO-set quota.

December 1

Vessels from the Faroe Islands resume fishing in the NRA in excess of their NAFO-set 3L shrimp quota.

November 16

The intergovernmental Conference on The Governance of High Seas Fisheries and the United Nations Fish Agreement - Moving from Words to Action (May 1-5, 2005 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) is announced.

November 16

Minister Regan addresses the United Nations General Assembly, focusing on the depletion of the world's fish stocks and the problem of global overfishing. He also outlines Canada's strategy to combat overfishing and to improve international fisheries governance.

November 6-10

Minister Regan visits counterparts in Portugal and Britain. In Portugal, Minister Regan and Minister Costa Neves agree to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation and to have a workshop for experts on the legal frameworks in Canada and Portugal in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, February 9-10, 2005. In Britain, Minister Regan agrees to identify opportunities for Canada to advance the work of the High Seas Task Force.

October 28

Minister Regan joins the High Seas Task Force - an international, ministerial task force dedicated to the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities on the high seas.

October 15

During the Progressive Governance Summit in Budapest, Hungary, Prime Minister Paul Martin meets with the Prime Minister of Spain and they agree to pursue further bilateral fisheries co-operation.

October 4

Canada's NAFO inspectors issue a citation to the Spanish vessel, Freiremar Uno, for failing to facilitate the work of an inspector who was trying to verify the reported catch on board.

October

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Associate Deputy Minister participates in bilateral meetings with senior officials from Spain, Portugal, and the EU to strengthen co-operation regarding overfishing.

September 22

During his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Martin stresses the need for a global oceans policy to allow for the rebuilding of fish stocks and improved regulation of fisheries under international law. While in New York, the PM meets with the Portuguese Prime Minister and they agree that bilateral work on a variety of fisheries issues will begin right away.

September 20-21

At Spain's invitation, Canada's NAFO inspectors attend the in-port inspection of the Spanish vessel, Dorneda, in Spain.

September 13-17

Progress made at the annual meeting of NAFO in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Among the outcomes, NAFO Contracting Parties agreed to regulate three previously unregulated fish stocks (Division 3LNO thorny skate, 3O redfish, and 3NO white hake) and to modify NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures to make at-sea and in-port inspections more effective.

September 2

A technical briefing is held to update Canadians on the monitoring, surveillance, and diplomatic actions taken by Canada since May 2004 to combat overfishing.

August 31

There are 38 vessels fishing on Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks, 41% fewer than the 64 vessels fishing there on the same day in 2003.

August 28

Canada's NAFO inspectors board and inspect the Portuguese vessel, Aveirense, finding compliance.

August 27

Denmark agrees to stop Greenlandic and Faroese vessels fishing in excess of their NAFO-set 3L shrimp quota.

August 24

Meeting of Canadian, Danish, Faroese and Greenlandic officials to obtain agreement from Denmark to stop fishing in excess of their NAFO-set quota for 3L shrimp.

August 15

At-sea inspections of vessels in the NRA since May 1st total 123. Canadian patrol vessel hours in the Area total 3,082.

August

Canada secures EU support for a technical consultation between Canadian and EU NAFO inspectors to develop a common understanding of the NAFO inspection process. The joint inspection workshop will take place in Brussels from January 25-27, 2005.

August

Following interventions by DFO Associate Deputy Minister, Spain orders the Dorneda out of the NRA.

July 29

Canada's NAFO inspectors board the Dorneda and issue citations for failure to accurately record daily catches and inaccurate capacity plans.

July 23

DFO officials meet with Russian counterparts in Ottawa.

July 22

Canada-United States annual bilateral fisheries consultations.

July 6

Canada-EU meeting of Deputy Ministers in Brussels results in agreement to focus on areas of common interest and on how to move forward co-operatively, particularly in NAFO.

June 25

Galician Fisheries Minister Enrique Lopez Veiga arrives in Canada to meet with ministers and officials in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Visits to scientific installations and processing and aquaculture plants lay foundation for future exchanges.

June 8-10

Prime Minister Martin raises Canada's concerns about overfishing on the high seas with the Presidents of the EU and France during the G8 Summit at Sea Island, Georgia.

June 3-5

Minister Regan raises Canada's concerns about overfishing during the North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers Conference in Iceland.

June 2

Between May 3 and June 2, Canada's NAFO inspectors board and inspect 36 fishing trawlers in the NRA.

June

DFO International Affairs Director General meets counterpart in Portugal.

June

Surveillance indicates international groundfish fleets have stopped fishing in the shallower waters of the continental shelf, where they are likely to catch excessive amounts of species under moratoria.

June - ongoing

Canadian embassies provide démarches on Canada's NAFO objectives to fisheries authorities of NAFO Contracting Parties.

Late Spring

DFO reallocates $12.5 million internally towards Canada's strategy to combat overfishing and to improve international fisheries governance.

Week of May 17

DFO Associate Deputy Minister participates in bilateral meetings on overfishing in Brussels, Madrid, Santiago de Compostela and Lisbon to establish important contacts to deal more effectively with issues. The visit is the first high-level official delegation to visit European countries since summer 2002.

May 8

Minister Regan updates Canadians on NAFO inspections conducted May 4-7.

May 7

Canada's NAFO inspectors board and inspect the Portuguese vessel, Solsticio, issuing a citation for a small net infringement.

May 7

DFO fishery officers retrieve an illegal mesh-sized fishing net filled with recently caught fish (64 per cent of which are moratoria species) believed to have been cut loose from the Portuguese vessel, Brites, immediately prior to Canada's inspection on May 4.

May 6

Minister Regan and then Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham announce an additional $15 million to further enhance surveillance and patrols in the NRA, increasing from one dedicated vessel to two to three on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap. Money will also fund an advisory panel to provide advice on how to end the cycle of high seas ecosystem destruction, increased diplomatic interventions, and Canada's agenda to improve international fisheries governance.

May 4-7

Canada's NAFO inspectors board and inspect two Portuguese vessels, Aveirense and Brites. Two citations are issued to the Aveirense for failing to wait 30 minutes before retrieving fishing gear after being notified that inspectors were coming on board and for fishing for species under moratoria.

May 4

Amendments to Canada's Coastal Fisheries Protection Regulations are approved, enabling Canada to apply UNFA enforcement procedures to all UNFA parties with fleets in the NRA.

April 30

DFO and Department of National Defence (DND) staff finalize operational plan to target vessels for inspections during fishing operations.

March 16

Minister Regan announces new, five-and-a-half year, $51-million contract with Provincial Airlines Limited (PAL) to provide aerial surveillance of waters in and outside Canada's 200-mile limit. Annual flying hours under contract total about 4,800 hours; about 2,000 hours dedicated specifically to NRA.

March 16

Minister Regan outlines five-year, $17.5 million strategy to enhance Canada's at-sea patrol programs; strengthen DFO co-operation with DND; and increase Canada's monitoring and analysis capacity.